A photo released by official North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun via Yonhap News Agency (YNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaking during a commendation ceremony for the scientists, technicians, workers and officials who contributed to the recent successful launch of a satellite in Pyongyang, North Korea, February 19, 2016 | EPA/Yna South Korea Out

On North Korea, Obama says US preparing ‘shield’

The United States is preparing a “shield” to protect itself from “relatively low-level” threats emanating from North Korea as the regime continues its saber-rattling by threatening to conduct its second nuclear test of the year.

“One of the things that we have been doing is spending a lot more time positioning our missile defense systems, so that even as we try to resolve the underlying problem of nuclear development inside of North Korea, we’re also setting up a shield that can at least block the relatively low-level threats that they’re posing right now,” Obama said in an interview with Charlie Rose that aired Tuesday on “CBS This Morning.”

Obama previously dismissed a proposal broached by a high-ranking North Korean official earlier this week, after the country’s foreign minister told the U.S. it would not conduct any more nuclear tests if the Americans ceased their military exercises with South Korea.

“North Korea is a massive challenge. Our first priority is to protect the American people and our allies, the Republic of Korea, Japan, that are vulnerable to the provocative actions that North Korea is engaging in. They are erratic enough,” Obama said. “Their leader is personally irresponsible enough that we don’t want them gettin’ close. But it’s not something that lends itself to an easy solution. We could, obviously — destroy North Korea with our arsenals. But aside from the humanitarian costs of that — they are right next door to our vital ally, Republic of Korea.”